Gabon Military Dethrones President, Nullifies Recent Election

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Gabon's national television broadcasted an unprecedented event as a group of army officers made a startling announcement – they had taken control of the government. Their proclamation included the nullification of the election results from the recent Saturday polls, in which President Ali Bongo was declared the victor.

The electoral commission's declaration of Bongo's success with just under two-thirds of the votes was met with opposition allegations of electoral fraud.

Similar to previous general elections in the country, the recent vote raised significant concerns about its integrity. Albert Ondo Ossa, the main candidate from the opposition, voiced his grievances, highlighting the absence of ballot papers bearing his name at numerous polling stations. Furthermore, the coalition he represented pointed out the presence of names on the ballot sheet of individuals who had withdrawn from the presidential race.

In a move that stifled transparency, foreign media were prohibited from covering the elections on Gabonese soil, a fact lamented by Reporters Without Borders, an organization dedicated to press freedom.

President Ali Bongo's history of election wins has been consistently marred by accusations of fraudulent practices from his opponents. This time, additional controversy arose due to last-minute alterations made to the voting papers, just weeks before the polling day.

The nation witnessed an unexpected televised appearance by a dozen soldiers during the early hours of Wednesday. Their statement was resounding, announcing the invalidation of the election outcomes and the dissolution of "all the institutions of the republic." Alongside this, they informed the nation of the temporary closure of the country's borders.

Ali Bongo's ascension to the presidency commenced in 2009, following the passing of his father, Omar Bongo, who had ruled Gabon for an impressive 42 years, from 1967 to 2009. Gabon's significance on the continent lies in its status as a major oil producer, while its landscapes are dominated by vast expanses of forests, covering nearly 90% of the country's territory.

In social medial, different reactions have been trading , on x (twitter) @ Africa Facts Zone said "Gabon's former President Omar Bongo had 70 bank accounts, 39 apartments, 2 Ferraris, 6 Mercedes Benz cars, 3 Porsches and a Bugatti in France. He ruled for 42 years (from 1967 to 2009), his son, Ali Bongo has been President since 2009. He has just been overthrown in a coup.